Unitary solenoid and valve assembly



Sept. 30, 1941. 0,. WERTHER 2,257,582

' UNITARY SOLENOID AND VALVE ASSEMBLY Fild Feb. 24, 1940 v cal/v WERT'HEP 5' INVENTOR ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 30, 1941 UNITED snuasv PAT ENT OFFlCE.

U NITABY SOLENOID AND VALVE ASSEMBLY L Odin Werther, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Eaton Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio l vApplicationFebruary 2!, 1940, Serial No. 320,531

7 Claims.

This invention relates generally to solenoids and valves associated therewith but more particularly concerns a-solenoid and valve asseme bly operated thereby which is.built into a single compact unit structure.

Among the objects of this invention is the provision of a solenoid and its operating plunger which is associated with an adjacent valve assembiy that is all built into av single inherently self-aligned unit principally composed. of stamped parts; the provision of a solenoid and valve assembly as above described having interchangeable parts; the provision of a solenoid and valve assembly as above described operable on fluid pressureor vacuum including a built-in air cleaner serving as a damper. for the solenoid plunger upon release thereof the provision 01' a combination solenoid and valve assembly as above described having a plurality of stamped sheet metal parts-which are interchangeable and which present a. minimum number of operationsto eilect a complete assembly thereof; the provision in a combination solenoid and valve housing as above described in which the movable plunger 0! the solenoid has a minimum distance 0! travel to cover or uncover the valve ports in the valve housing to admit a maximum volume 01' operating fluid; the provision in a combination solenoid and valve housing as above described in which the valve ports are so arranged and of suitable sire as to equalize pressure upon opposite sides of the solenoid plunger to prevent sticking thereof and to be equal to or greater-than the area oi the operating fluid inlet channel, thereby constituting a solenoid structure or minimum size and low operating current consumption.

Another object of the invention is the provision or acomb tionsolenoid and valve assembly operated ereby in a compact housing structure that is selt contained in itselfand presents a perfectly shielded unit which may be adapted to fit any mounting or installation position by an alteration of its attaching bracket.

Further and other objects and advantages of the invention reside in the novel combination and,

arrangement of parts hereinafter described, when considered in conjunction withfthe-accompanying drawing forming a part or this specification and pointed out with particularity in the appended claims.

In the drawing like relerence characters denote corresponding parts-in the several views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through one forms the lower halt or form of this invention illustrating the solenoid body and valve assembly operated thereby and associated therewith; and

Fig. 2 is an elevational view partly in section illustrating the solenoid structure of Fig. 1 in corporated in a system as a shaft'brake operating means.

Now having reference to Fig. 1 there is shown solenoid and valve assembly body'generally designoted II is built around'a combination core and valve tube l5, which is preferably formed from standard seamless tubing, and intermediate the ends thereof has an expanded section that forms an annular shoulder it on its outer periphery.

Below the shoulder l6 two sets of are 7 pierced through the wall of the valve tube l5, which consist of two diametrically opposed and elongated sets of slotsfil, ila. and II, its that are milled out o! the tube wall for a purpose to he hereinafter disclosed. A solenoid plunger ll slidable in the core tube l5 has an integral valve body l9a on the lower end thereof, which with said plunger [9 controls fluid flow through the two sets of ports I1, i'laand ll, Ila. The plunger I! is normally seated-by gravity but has a;

lightbooster spring 2!, recessed inan upper axial pocket II of theplunger l9, to speed up the plunger action upon release of the solenoid re trsctive force and to prevent due to tempereture changes. too close mechanical fitting or 'stickins oi the plunger in the tube. An ape'r- 1 tured rubber damper R is positioned within the upper end oil-the tube it and serves to cushion the noise and 11 0. Moned by the-plunger I! being rapidly retracted when itl'ie solenoid is electrically energized. Around the lower end of the valve tube It is positionedan apertured cupshaped metal'stsmp ns. wh h ms th up part of valve housing cover 2!, that snuglysilts over the outer peripheryoi the tube ll' the periphery of the aperture abutting against its shoulder is, and which has an open lower end whose periphery fits nicely within the outer cover housing ii. A second cup-shaped metal stamping, of identical size, shape. apertures, and interchangeable with upper cover housing II, the valve housing cover 25a, and is placed around the valve tube I! with its upper open end facing the lower open end of the upper cover 25 to completely define a valve housing chamber. Between the upper and lower housing coversv 25 and 25a, an annular plate 29 is interposed and divides or partitions the. chamber defined by the cover into upper and lower halves of equal size, and gasket members 2! disposed on either side of the plate 28 seal the outer periphery of the valve chamber and the peripheries of the axial and intermediate apertures between the upper and lower halves of the chamber. Accordingly, the chambers so defined are intercom'municated only by the valve tube I! extending axially therethrough with the ports I'I, [1a and I8, l8a in the wall thereof disposed, respectively, in the upper and lower chambers.

noid proper are annularly wound and slipped upon the core and valve tube l9 above the valve chambers 25 and 25a; and over the solenoid is seated an annular magnetic amplifier 45 which is formed of soft steel or the like to increase or strengthen the magnetic fiux of the solenoid. Upon the magnetic amplifier 45 is seated an annular terminal block or cover 46 to close the The lower marginal end of the valve tube I5 is outwardly flared or spun overthe rim of the aperture in the'lower housing cover 25a to hold the assembly permanently in place.

Within the valve chamber two short sections of I hollow tubing 33 and 30a, identical in size, and

interchangeable in position, extend through apertures in the upper wall of the cover and depend by an enlarged annular flange 3| at the upper closed ends thereof and have open lower threaded sections projecting through the lower valve cover 25a and below the outer cover housing l2. Threaded nut means 32 drawn up against the lower wall of the valve cover 254 retain the tube sections 30 and 33a in place within the housing, space the valve cover from the'bottom of the outer cover l2, and exert an additional fasten-.-

ing means to insure a uniform seal of the valve chambers to prevent loss of operating fiuidoralr leaks. ,The hollow tube sections 33 and 33a have two sets of ports 34 and 34a, respectively, comprising openings drilled through the'walls of thetubes and spaced substantially at right angles to each other, the spacing between each set of ports is arranged to fall within each of the upper and lower halves of the valve chambers and to correspond substantially with the spacing of-ports I1,-

Apertured rubber sleeves or' Fla and I8, 18a.

upper end of the housing l2and which is held in place by a plurality of ears or lugs 41 bent therefrom. Terminals 48 are fastened by rivets 49 or other suitable fastening means, to the fibre orhard rubber terminal block 46, and theinner and outer lead wires from the solenoid 44 are threaded through insulated sleeves it thereto and fastened; Fastening means 52 threaded into the terminals 43 areconnected with a. source of power, such as an electric battery shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2.

In assembling the solenoid and valve assembly body, generally designated I], the core and valve tube [5 is initially secured in aligned relation with the upper valve cover housing 23. The tube sections 33 and3lla are inserted through apertures in the valve cover housing 25 with the lower threaded ends depending and the closed upper flanged ends 3| seated on the top wall of the cover.- Over the tube 39, used as an inlet channel, the upper set of ports 34 therein are closed '01! by rubber bushing or gasket 36. the gasket 21 .is threaded over the tube endsand abuts against the bushing 36; the dividing plate 26 comes next in order, then another gasket 21 abuts against the lower face thereof, and a second rubber bushing 38 closes 03 the lower set of ports 34a in the gaskets 36 are fitted aroundthe upper set of ports 34, in the tube section-'33, and the lower set of ports m, in the tube section 30a, to close oil. one set of ports in each .tube section to secure the I desired valve action, as will be presently described, and assist in sealing the adjacent aper- ,ture through the valve cover housing against fluid escapemenu. A'thin plate member 33 has a central aperture therethrough slightly greater than the valve foot l9a, aligned therewith and with the airinlet aperture l3 in theouter cover I2, and is positionedupon the free ends of: tube sections 30 and an adjacent the outer sides of lock nuts 32 and abuts against'the inner bottom wall of the cover housing l2 to hold an air filter member 39 in place fitted within the aperture l3 thereof. The air filter 39 is preferably a thin waferlike circular member composed of upper and lower discs of fine wire-mesh, screen between which is interposed a layer of cotton or porous filter paper. In addition to functioning as an air filter unit to insure that no foreign particles may enter the housing l2which might clog the'valve tube or valve ports, it also acts as a noise damper to cushion the fall and seat the solenoid plunger I! when it drops down to its lower position upon -the solenoid being deenergized. An apertured bracket member 40 fitted over the pipes 30 and 33a, has an aperture smaller in size than the filter member 39 andin line therewith below the base place on the tube, and clamp nuts 32- outlet tube 39a, after which the lower half of the valve cover housing 25a is threaded, open end up,

on the valve'tube II and pipes 33 and 30a. The lower marginal edge of the valve'tube II is then fiared out or spunover the adjacent outer wall pf the cover 25a to hold the sub-assembly tightly in tube sections 30 and 33a fix these members in position in the sub-assembly and serve as spacers to fix the distance from the lower w of the sub -assembly to the base wall of the outer cover housing [2 which extends therearound and'below.

Air cleaner retainer plate 33 is next threaded over the tube sections and the outer cover housing I21 also threaded thereover with the open end up, after which air cleaner 39 is introduced inthe aperture l3, of the cover 39, and the mounting bracket 43 fastened in place over the lower face of the base wail of outer cover housing II to hold the air cleaner in placeand which in turn is held in place by clamp nuts and/or adapters 4|.

.. The prewound solenoid 44 is slipped over the core tube [5, the plunger and valve bodyl9, Ila,

placed therein, and the release spring 20 and rubber damper 23'inserted in the upper ends of the plunger [9 and core tube lI,,respectiveLv.

The annular magnetic amplifier 45' is seated upon the upper end of the solenoid 44, the terminal block 49 thereover, the inner and outer lead wires from the solenoid threaded through upstanding insulated sleeves II to terminals 43 riveted in the ed on ports, are formed'by a milling operation through diametrically opposite sections oi the valve tube wall whereby side thrusts are equalized or balanced by fluid pressure or suction upon opposite sides of the valve body Ila, integral with solenoid plunger Is, to prevent sticking thereof to the valve tube l; and toprovide substantially the ries with a shaft brake controlling mechanism.

The shaft brake and component parts may consist of a brake housing 55, brake drum 5!, and its circumscribed brake band 51, with brake shoe 58 secured thereto. A brake operating lever 59 connected to the shoe so is suitably linked with adiaphragm 60 adapted to operate the same in:

a well known manner under the influence of a pressure fluid or vacuum. The diaphragm 6| in, thisinstance is vacuum operated and is connected to the solenoid body II by the clamp nut and adapter ll on the inlet tube section 3|. The opposite tube section lid is connected through a similar clamp nut and Joined to a source of vacuum, for example the intake manifold of an associated internal combustion engine, not shown. The terminals ,4! are connected. byle'ad wires I 3 39 disposed transversely in the atmospheric open- -ing It. It will be observed the foot of the valve body Ila, shown by broken lines in its lowest position, is smaller in circumference than the periphery of the filtered air inlet opening 13 therefore air may enter therearound, and since the ports l8, [8a are in communication therewith and the tube section is thus vented to the atmosphere the suction on the diaphragm in series therewith will be broken and free to breath and the brake released. Likewise, in this lower position of the plunger I! the upper end of the valve body lia has simultaneously closed off communication of the upper set of ports IT, "a with the atmosphere and sealed the tube section 30a and ports 34a therein, so as not to open the vacuum line from the intake manifold of the en-' glue to the atmosphere. It will now be apparent from this arrangement of valve porting, and, by the use of rubber bushings placed over the upper and lower sets of ports in the inlet and outlet tube sections, respectively, that the solenoid plunger in a short operating travel accomplishes two functions, that of venting the unit to the-atmosphere and regulating the passage of operating fluid through the unit; and additionally affords interchangeability of the parts. Further, since the solenoid plunger travels only a short distance, and is balanced on opposite sides against fluid pressure, only a minimum current consumption is necessary From the foregoing disclosures it 'will be seen that a combination solenoid and valve assembly clamped thereto by the fastening means 52 across,

an electric battery diagrammatically illustrated at 52; one of the lead wires being interrupted by l a switch 64 to open or close the circuit at will.

The operation of the solenoid and valve is as follows: when the switch 84 is closed current flows through the solenoid windings H and the magnetic flux generated attracts the solenoid plunger I! and causes it to be drawn upward in the core tube II a short distance of travel until the plunger collapses the spring 20 and shuts against the rubber cushion 2}, as shown. In this operated thereby have been built into a single, compact, inherently self-aligned unit formed for the most part of stamped and interchangeable parts, as distinguished from devices of this type heretofore known, and accomplishing among I other things the objects and advantages of the invention first enumerated. It is to be undertratlon and is not intendedin a limiting sense as many modifications will present themselves in practice which may fairly come within the scope 1. In combination a solenoid actuated valve assembly including a sheet 'metal cover housing the same, said solenoid comprising an axial core tube with solenoid windings around its outer periphery on the upper section thereof and axially spaced sets of ported openings through the lower the intake, manifold of an engine, The ports l8,

Ida register with the inlet tube section ll, andports 34 therein, which is connected with. the work, in this case diaphragm ll and brak'eiever 59. Under these conditions with the vacuum line being in direct communication with the brake lever 59, through the diaphragm and bellows therein, it will be collapsed and the brake applied. Upon the switch I being opened the solenoid is deenergized and the solenoid plunger ll drops by section thereof, a stamped valve housing fixed said valve chambers having ports therein for pas sage of an operating medium therebetween according to the setting of said solenoid plunger.

2'. In combination ,a solenoid actuated valve assembly including asheet metal' cover housing the same, .said solenoid comprising an axialcore tube with solenoid windings around its outer periphery onthe upper section thereof and axially spaced sets-bfported'npenings through the lower section thereof, a vine housing fixed around the lower section of the core tube including a partition therein segregating said ported openings into separate chambers concentrically surrounding said core tube, the lower end of said core tube and attached valve housing disposed in spaced relation to the base wall of said outer sheet metal cover housing the same including a lower open end in said core tube overlying an at mospherio opening'in said outer cover housing,

va solenoid actuated plunger within said core tube including an integral valve body adjacent one end thereof adapted to uncover or cover at will at least one set of said ported openings to the valve chambers upon the solenoid being energizd or deenergized, and inlet and outlet tubes toand from said valve chambers h'aving ports therein for passage of an operating medium therebetween or said inlet tube vented to the atmosphere according to! the setting of said solenoid plunger.

3. In combination a solenoid actuated valve assembly including a sheet metal cover housing the same, said solenoid comprising an axial core tube with solenoid windings around its outer periphery on the upper section thereof and axially spaced sets of ported openings through the lower section thereof, a valve housing fixed around the lower section of the core tube including a partition therein segregating said ported openings into separate chambers concentrically surrounding said oore tube, the lower end of said core tube and attached valve housing disposed in spaced relation to the base wall of said outer sheet metal cover housing the same including v a lower open end in said core tube overlying an atmospheric opening in said outer cover housing,.

a solenoid actuated plunger within said core tube including an integral valve body adjacent one end thereof adapted to uncover or cover at will at least one set of said ported openings to the valve chambers upon the solenoid being energized or deenergized, inlet and outlet tubes to and from said valve chambers having ports therein for passage of an operating medium therebetween or said inlet tube vented to the atmosphere according to the setting of said solenoid plunger, and said atmospheric opening having a transversely disposed air filter fixed thereacross adapted as a cushioned stop in the lowermost position of the solenoid plunger.

4. A unitary solenoid actuated valve assembly according to claim 1, in which the stamped valve housing is formed of interchangeable cup shaped portions secured together at the open ends to an annular plate section partitioning the housing so formed into upper and lower chambers concentrically surrounding the solenoid core tube.

5. A unitary solenoid actuated valve assembly according to claim 1, in which the stamped portions' securedto the core tube. and forming the valve housing including the several members fixed therein or thereto are preformed and interchangeable.

6. The combination with an annular solenoid including a magnetic amplifier adjacent thereto and a terminal block disposed thereover for reception of the leads from said solenoid and adapted to be connected to a power source, of an aninin communication with each other according to the location of said valve body on the solenoid plunger with respect to at least one set of the ports in said core tube, and an annular outer cover enveloping said valve housing and solenoid having an open upper end with integral lugs bent therefrom and overlying said terminal block to retain the assembly therein.

7. In "an annular solenoid assembly including terminals therefor arranged to be connected to a power source for actuating an associated vacuum valve, 9. sub-assembly comprising a tube arranged to be partially disposed within said solenoid and having axially spaced ported openings in the tube wall below said solenoid concentrically surrounded by a partitioned vacuum chamber fixed thereto with inlet and outlet ported conduits therein including a plunger movable in said tube under the influence of said solenoid and having a lower integral grooved valve section adapted to inter communicate said ported openings in the tubewall and said ported inlet and outlet conduits in v the 'valve chamber when the solenoid is energized, and an outer housing'i'or enveloping and retaining said solenoid assembly and sub-assembly with the vacuum valve operated thereby 'ineluding an exhaust opening in said outer housing for venting the inlet portof said vacuum chamber to the atmosphere when the unit is inactive.

g com. WEB. ,THER. 

